MIES (Switzerland) - In line with FIBA's continuing drive to ensure basketball is played in a safe and supportive environment, two major initiatives have been introduced: the FIBA Safeguarding Toolkit and the FIBA Safeguarding Excellence – Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Course.
These initiatives, part of FIBA's strategic objective of Sustainability and Innovation, represent a proactive step in strengthening safeguarding practices across the sport and have been developed for National Federations and other basketball organizations.
Both resources are also freely available to professionals across all sports, demonstrating FIBA's commitment to safeguarding and its role in advancing the highest standards of protection and accountability throughout the wider sporting community.
The FIBA Safeguarding Toolkit provides practical guidance for building robust safeguarding frameworks. It helps organizations establish clear policies and procedures, raise awareness, prevent harm, and respond effectively to incidents. Designed to support both newcomers to safeguarding and those seeking to strengthen existing measures, the Toolkit is a comprehensive resource for all stakeholders. It is available in English, French, and Spanish.
The FIBA Safeguarding Excellence – SPOC Course is a free online program, available in English, French, and Spanish, aimed at training individuals to serve as Safeguarding Single Points of Contact within their organizations.
Essential topics are covered such as the role and responsibilities of a SPOC, how to recognize, respond to, and report safeguarding concerns, building safe environments, drafting and approving safeguarding policies, conducting safeguarding risk assessments, and developing tailored safeguarding plans.
This SPOC course is open to anyone from the wider basketball community, including non-basketball organizations, and reinforces FIBA's vision of raising safeguarding standards across the globe. Click here for more information about the course and to register.
FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis emphasized the significance of these initiatives, stating:
These tools mark a significant step forward in our Safeguarding Action Plan.
"The SPOC Course is the first course of the FIBA Safeguarding Excellence Programs, and we aim to develop further courses for players, coaches, and other stakeholders. By making them free and accessible to all, we demonstrate FIBA's unwavering commitment to safety, innovation, and leadership in safeguarding."
HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, founding Chair of the FIBA Safeguarding Council, added:
The Toolkit and SPOC Course will empower organizations.
"This is safeguarding leadership in action. FIBA is demonstrating strong engagement and a clear commitment to protecting everyone involved in basketball. I want to sincerely thank all members of the FIBA Safeguarding Council for their contribution to these important milestones."
For more information regarding safeguarding, click here. If you wish to report a case of abuse, click here or send an email to safeguarding@fiba.basketball.
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About FIBA FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
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